Cottage Prayers

Large congregations are the rule here in Malawi. As in the States, the challenge in a large congregation is how to spiritually nurture the members. It is so easy for folks to just come to worship but never get involved in the life of the congregation. To help address that issue, Blantyre Synod congregations are divided into zones, geographic regions of the congregation. Elders are appointed from each of the zones or cottages to oversee the life of the members within those areas. The elders are responsible for knowing the families in their area – their needs, their struggles, and their joys. The elders are responsible for conducting weekly prayer meetings. These are called Cottage Prayers. Each week in worship, the locations of cottage prayers are announced so that everyone in that area is able to know and to attend. At the Chigodi congregation, we have 4 zones. Cottage prayers are usually held on Saturday afternoons, so those who are working are able to attend.

Rev. Kadawati teaching

Since the church is preparing for elections of leadership in December, Rev. Kadawati and I have visited the cottages during November, doing some teaching on the responsibilities and the requirements for deacons and elders, answering questions and then joining them in prayer. If the need is there, we have done some visitation to the sick as well. Now, I’m a bit handicapped in that I can’t preach in Chichewa but I can understand the questions being asked and follow the discussions. The session clerk, who has traveled with us, has been good about translating for me – both translating my preaching for the members of the prayer groups and the questions of the group so that I get the full extent of the questions. I have done the preaching and Rev. Kadawati has done the teaching and fielded most of the questions, although he has tossed a few delicate ones in my direction. We have worked well together as a team. For a few of these, my young associate from Chigodi Women’s Center, a newly ordained minister, has gone with us and joined in the service.

The various cottage groups had really enjoyed it when the three of us are together. It is enough to have one pastor, a blessing to have two and almost unheard of to have three in one congregation. Repeatedly they tell us how blessed they are to have the three of us there.

The venue for these meetings is always someone’s home, but the houses are too small for groups of twenty or more, so we have been meeting outside the houses. Praise God that the rains have held off each time. These meetings take place mid afternoon on Saturdays, so the challenge is to find a shady place for everyone to sit and for the pastors to stand. Seating is on the ground, or in a few cases, on grass mats that the host provided. This has worked and most Malawian are comfortable with that, especially the women who are used to sitting on the ground. We have walked up steep hills and down among small houses to get to the hosts’ homes. We have been in the heart of the Kachere village area. I have gotten to know places that one never sees from the road, where the people live. Each time, we are warmly greeting, offered cool drinks and the best seats and made to feel that we have honored them by coming, when in fact, we are the one who are blessed by being there.

My only regret is that we did not do this earlier in my time with the congregation, since this has given me a wonderful opportunity to know where these folks live and for a brief time to share in their lives. But I have to trust God that this is the right time. Rev. Kadawati’s schedule as General Secretary has not allowed for this, he has had to juggle things to make this work. My Chichewa has only recently gotten to the point that I feel comfortable following conversations and I think it has taken this time for the members to be comfortable with a mzungu (white) pastor, so it has all worked out in God’s perfect time.

Zone 2 Cottage group

General Assembly

A General Assembly of the CCAP (Central Church Africa, Presbyterian) was scheduled to begin on Saturday here in Blantyre. This would have involved all 5 of the synods of the CCAP -  Blantyre, Livingstonia, Nkhoma, Zambia and Zimbabwe – but it is not going to happen For the fourth time in as many years, the meeting has been canceled because the participants could not agree on the agenda. Actually, two of the five would not agree, Livingstonia and Nkhoma. The two synods are in a dispute about the border between the synods and each encroaching into the other’s territory in planting prayer houses and new churches. This is not a new dispute. It has been brewing since 1924, if the issue is traced far enough. It has heated up in the last few years and the encroachment has escalated on both sides.

The rhetoric and public arguments have quieted down in the last months. Parties from the other synods had visited both of the disputing parties and each had agreed to participate in the General Assemble. We were all hopeful. Plans were made and everything was coming in place. Accommodations were reserved. The meeting place was prepared. Subcommittee meetings were scheduled. Tuesday there was an air of anticipation that this was finally the time to put the differences of the past in the past and to move forward, politely agreeing to disagree on some points but working to preserve the unity of the church by meeting together. Then Tuesday evening the meeting was canceled. The issue was the agenda. Livingstonia wanted the border issue on the agenda and Nkhoma refused. There was no giving on either side. They were right back at the same impasse, over the same issue. It was as if all the negotiating of the last months had not happened. All arrangements were canceled.

This is a disturbing development for a number of reasons. The most obvious is that as brothers and sisters in Christ, we cannot sit together and work out our differences. Yes, there is record of disputes happening even in the New Testament, but they were worked out by meeting and reasoning together. If we don’t meet, we can’t reason together. Second is the waste of resources - time and money - that has been spent on something that is now not going to happen. In a land where resources are so scarce, it is really a sin to waste them in this way. But even more serious is the message that this sends to the non-Christian world. It says we can’t practice what we preach about peace and love. We are damaging our witness to the world and thereby tarnishing the name of Christ. This grieves my heart. I can only imagine what it must do to God’s heart.

But before I become too quick to point fingers of shame, I need to look more closely at my relationships. It is so easy to see others’ errors, especially institutions, because they tend to be nameless and faceless. But when they are brothers and sisters in the faith, it is different. It is harder to point at those we know and like, on both sides of a dispute. Pointing becomes inappropriate. That is not our place. The only thing to do, with integrity, is to uphold all parties concerned in prayer. Only God can change hearts and resolve differences. This must continue to be an issue of prayer. That is true for all the church disputes in all our denominations because the truth is that we all have them. The issues are different. The names and faces are different, but the disputes are there. I am convinced that the only alternative is prayer from and for all parties involved. Only God can truly make peace.

Let the Children Come

Most of my work is with adults, especially pastors. But sometimes God gives me the opportunity to be with the children of Malawi. That makes my heart sing. Last week God gave me one of those times, thanks to Peter Kadawati, the General Secretary’s eldest son. Peter is a college student majoring in community development with a heart for ministry. About 2 years ago, he was asked to help with a CBC group – Community based Orphan Care – that is run by Blantyre Synod Health and Development Commission (BSHDC). The project works with orphans and the adults who care for them in a densely populated area outside of Blantyre. BSHDC operates a number of these centers around Blantyre. Peter has begun a Bible study with the group and asked me if I would come and share the word with them. He would translate. I have done this twice before. Those times the groups have been the women who care for the children.

The prayer group moves around, trying to find adequate space. Most recently they have been meeting in an open air shelter with just a grass roof. The participants sit on the ground. This particular day, as we left Blantyre for the site, the winds picked up and the sky darkened. When we arrived, there was no one at the shelter. We were told by one of the neighbors, one who cares for some of the orphans, that many women had gathered, but when the wind started, everyone scattered. They wanted better shelter. A light rain was beginning, so the lady invited us to stand on a porch, out of the wind and wet, until the group could be gathered again. Then the owner of the house insisted that we come in and sit in her living room while we waited. There was no need for a great announcement that we were there. Everyone knew. We had come by car and that is a rare sight in this area. The children gathered around the car and followed it down the narrow lanes as we drove. They easily followed us to the house to wait with us. Within just a few minutes, there were 15 children standing on the front porch, looking in at us. Our hostess invited them in and announced that her living room was the best location for worship that day. This is where we would stay. That announcement was as good as a public address call. The children began to assemble, this time in the house instead of in the shelter. Within 5 minutes the house was full, floor space all taken and more came, sitting on the front porch, leaning in the windows. We had a congregation.

Peter made introductions and worship began – lively singing of choruses, with clapping and dancing. Movement was a challenge, since the space was so crowded, but that did not stop the Malawian movement of worship. Unlike the other times I have spoken to the group, most of those gathered were children. I quickly mentally adjusted my message for a younger audience. These bright faces didn’t need deep thoughts as much as they needed encouragement to be faithful to follow Jesus. As I spoke of a young David who had a heart that pleased God, they understood (because of Peter’s good translation) that they could please God. They began to respond visually and verbally. They liked the story and got the message. And I had fun with them. I think I got a glimpse of why Jesus liked to have the children come to him. They are free to respond, What a blessing to a preacher.

Only after the service, as we were leaving, did we realize that the light rain has stopped soon after it began, The ground wasn’t even wet. All that threatening weather had been to change the location and the composition of the congregation, not to flood the area. God gave me time with his children, That a blessing!